... Since 1997 international competitions can keep an eye on new formed tandem in Ice-dancing. Just in two years world figure skating elite did understand that very soon they would have two new members. World championships in Nice in 2000 became ill-starred. At the training before free dance Albena was contused by their closer opponent for eight place Peter Tshernyshev. Naturalized american did cut the muscle and two tendons on the left leg of bulgarian by his skate. Right away she was operated in France. Well-known russian coach Tatiana Tarasova made a doubt of chance of the incident, but Albena clenched the teeth, thinking only about the future. Completely supporting by Maxim she was already on a level at the Olimpiade in Solt-Lake-City in 2002. Our dancing couple did take prestige 7th place, and in 2003 has become ¹1... in the hearts of the public at least - thirds in the World, seconds in the Europe and two first places at Grand-Prix Series the same year. World and european silver medalists next year, but only according to score of jugdes. Specialists, journalists and fans announce - bulgarians are ¹1 without any doubt. But there's strong and influential Russian federation and great ambitions for the gold at any price after their opponents Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov. At Euro championships in 2005 our duet was WD because of Albena's disease, and at the following World championships the judges literally sneer at bulgarians, throwing them down to the fifth place. The competitions took place in Moscow, so the gold medal was preliminarelly reserved after Navka/Kostomarov, but even the whole Russia did admit - bulgarians were to the second place. Despite everything and despite everyone Denkova and Stavisski continue to smile on and off the ice, prepare essential changes in their programs and they are ready to sacrifice everything to win the gold medal for Bulgaria at the Olimpic Games in Torino.

The first time, when... you saw Maxim... Albena : my first impression was mistaken, because I wasn't very delighted with him. I had watched one video tape of him from the competition and he looked another way, more solide, but when I saw him at the airport, he was so plain guy wearing a sport costume. But when I've started to mix with him, I felt myself quite comfy with him, with his family and in Russia at all.

The first time, when... you saw Albena...
Maxim: Well, I was not very impressed. She did alight from the plane - haven't done her hair, without make-up, tired and frightened. I thought then - "plain mouse, what would I do with her, well.. we'll see!" (he's laughing when Albena tells him not to tell a lie :) I didn't look attentively at her on principle, because when I had seen her trunk, I turned my mind just to it.I did understand that we had to take a lorry to get home. No, to tell the truth, for me it was really important how we would dance together on ice. Appearance didn't interest me - yes, she has had hands, legs, pretty face.

The first time, when... you stand up on the skates...
Albena : I've started quite late. Firstly I went in for rhythmic gymnastic, but then decided to train for a new profession all the more that all my family and me, we liked very much figure skating. I was 8 or 9 y.o then and skated at the ice-rink "Slavia".

Maxim: I even don't remember when I've started because I was 4 years old - that was the beginning of the hard life of one sportsmen, would be written in his memoirs one day..

The first time, when... you did understand you are a good skater...
Albena : And I didn't yet. (Maxim: I tell her about it from time to time but she doesn't believe me...)
Maxim: I did understand it, when began to take high places and saw that I could do more than others. But "a good skater" is a relative conception, because you can think you are the best, but when you would look more attentively - you don't. I consider that I'm not a bad skater, even good. I have my own faults and Albena has her own too. But we are not bad skaters, in consequence of that we took the second place in the World at one time.

The first time, when... you felt you were famous...
Albena : In Bulgaria we felt ourselves famous rather fast, because people love and know us - especially recently. (Maxim: She felt herself famous, when we were at one big shopping-centre in Moscow and one shop-girl did run to us and asked: "Are you Albena Denkova? Can you give me an autograph, please?" In Russia it's something outstanding, when you are recognized in the street, it is a real phenomemon.)
Maxim: Well.. when police began to recognize me, when wanted to arrest. Otherwise not because of figure skating but because I went from the trainings the same time and the same place every day they arrested me and shouted: "Ah, it is you again!" Then I did undestand that I was quite famous. Later on, when some children began to recognize me in the street, run to me and take autographes - it was very pleasant...

Till what time...will you compete?
Albena: Till the Olimpiade in Torino - 100%. We have an idea to stay for 1 or even 2 years after olympic season, but it is too early to say. Nobody know what will come to our mind next summer!

Maxim: We skate till the time they will throw us away - while the politic situation is on our side. Till the time I know we could outstrip enough couples. In another way, we will continue to compete as professionals, what is nearly the same.

Till what time...will you work in Bulgaria?
Albena: Always, because I like to be here and to a certain degree I'm a patriot.

Maxim: I can say, that even after we will quit the Big Sport, my activity will be connected with Bulgaria, because I have a lot of friends and contacts here, which I don't have in Russia. Maybe I'll do some business. Here we have a lot of wide possibilities. And also we will make a very good figure skating school.

Till what time...will you stay unmarried?
Albena: While I'm competing professionally, I'm unmarried for sure.

Till what time...will you stay bachelor?
Maxim: I'll wait about 1 or 2 years and if Albena doesn't marry to me, I'll try to find another candidacy or I'll just move to Arabian to gather a harem...

continue...

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